The Minpins

Synopsis

Background

When Little Billy sneaks into the Forest of Sin he meets thousands of tiny surprises: the Minpins. His new friends live in miniature houses inside hollow trees. But every one is terrified of a Fearsome Beast - and if Billy wants to go home he must defeat it once and for all!

The Minpins was Roald Dahl's last children's book. Like many of his other stories, it was partially inspired by the countryside around where he lived. The wood at the top of the field behind Roald's house was even known as the Minpin forest. It also has a connection to another of his books - Little Billy's mother tells him that the Forest of Sin is home to creatures including Vermicious Knids, which are the alien-like creatures that also appear in Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

The Minpins was published in 1991, not long after Roald's death in November 1990. It was illustrated by Patrick Benson. The last line of the story is one of the most-repeated Roald Dahl quotes...

The Minpins was one of the last of Roald Dahl's stories to be published